An Analytical Study on Air Quality of Some Historical and Cultural Cities in Uttar Pradesh (India) with Special Reference to the Environment and Human Health

Abstract

Abstract: The rapid urbanization, different construction works and deforestation recently increased in some famous historical, cultural and religious cities in Uttar Pradesh due to higher population pressure. Thousands of pilgrims visit these cities every year by motor and other vehicles. The motor vehicle exhaust also plays a vital role to enhance the toxic gases and aerosol in the environment. Many toxic particles, molecules, toxic gasses, chemicals, dust particles, vehicle exhausts and microorganisms also help to increase deterioration in air quality. Some factors like particulate matter, sulphur di oxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon mono oxide, carbon di oxide in higher concentrations directly affect and change the air texture as well as air quality. Higher concentrations of these substances are very injurious to the environment as well as living being including human. In present investigation a comparative study is done in between the residential and industrial/commercial area of five famous historical, cultural religious cities of Uttar Pradesh i.e. Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, Gorakhpur and Ayodhya. Four air quality parameters i.e., air quality index (AQI), SO2, NO2 and PM10 average annual concentrations have been taken for this analytical study. AQI (Air quality index) was found 2 to 4 times higher in residential area while 3-6 times higher in industrial/commercial area in comparison to normal AQI value (0-50) in all studied cities/area. The highest average annual AQI value was recorded (166.40 microgram/m3) in Saket Nagar residential of Varanasi while 313.36 recorded in Geeda industrial area of Gorakhpur. The annual average of sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration found 26.46 (microgram/m3) and 26.12 (microgram/m3) in residential area Varanasi and Prayagraj respectively which is slightly higher than the standard value (20microgram/m3). SO2 concentration recorded higher almost in industrial area of all cities. It was found highest in Geeda industrial area of Gorakhpur (49.70 microgram/m3) in comparison to normal annual value (20 microgram/m3). The annual average NO2 concentration in residential area almost found below or equal to normal value but it was recorded more than 3 times (33.44 microgram/m3) in Geeda industrial area of Gorakhpur. The particulate matter (PM10) concentration recorded very high in all residential as well as industrial/commercial area of all studied cities. The highest PM10 concentration 198.47(microgram/m3) found in Saket Nagar residential area of Varanasi city which is about 20 times higher than the normal value (10 microgram/m3). The highest average annual concentration of PM10 recorded 355.06 (microgram/m3) in Geeda industrial area of Gorakhpur which is about 36 times higher than normal annual value. The increasing concentration of the studied factors adversely affecting the environment as well as human health in these cities. The long term or short-term exposure of these pollutants is responsible for increasing various pulmonary disease in these cities.